Venezuela's FM calls Trump's remark 'aggression'

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Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza on Saturday slammed US President Donald Trump's rhetoric of "not rule out using military force" against Venezuela as typical American aggression.

"Venezuela categorically rejects the unfriendly and warmongering declarations of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, who has threatened us with a military intervention, in violation of United Nations principles and international law," said Arreaza.

Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino on Friday also disparaged Trump's warning as "craziness," calling on Latin America to unite against Washington.

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro gestures as he arrives for a session of the National Constituent Assembly at Palacio Federal Legislativo in Caracas, Venezuela, Aug.10, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Protest of Latin America

After months of attacking Venezuela's unpopular President Nicolas Maduro, Latin America came out strongly against US threats of military action against the crisis-hit nation.

Peru, one of Maduro's fiercest critics, led the charge in criticizing Trump's threat, saying it was against UN principles. Mexico and Colombia joined in with statements of their own.

"All foreign or domestic threats to resort to force undermine the goal of reinstating democratic governance in Venezuela, as well as the principles enshrined in the UN charter," said Peru's Foreign Minister Ricardo Luna.

Bolivian President Evo Morales also condemned on Saturday Trump's statement and slammed the international community for keeping silent.

"We condemn the armed interventionist eagerness by the US against Venezuela, a country which seeks peace in dialogue," Morales said on Twitter.

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